Lebanese new website Al Akhbar, which is associated with Hezbollah and often reflects Hamas's position, writes that optimism regarding the prospects of the hostage deal negotiations in Paris remains "very cautious."
There have been no fundamental changes in the position of either side, except for some "flexibility," as described by the mediators, from both Israel and Hamas.
Participants of the summit in Paris included CIA Director William Burns, Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Mossad chief David Barnea and the Shin Bet director Ronen Bar take part in the negotiations from the Israeli side.
Israel has sent a delegation to Doha, Qatar, to continue negotiations. However, Hamas leadership again expresses its unwillingness to make significant concessions.
"The deal is not close yet, but the goal is to reach it before the beginning of Ramadan," said chief of Hamas foreign relations Osama Hamdan. According to Hamdan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands on "four nos": no ceasefire, no withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip, no return of displaced people to the northern sector, and no real deal on the exchange.
